Fertilizer distributor

Abstract

A fertilizer distributor adapted to be combined with a tree seedling planter which gives the operator complete control of spacings by a foot pedal mechanism that allows him to dump the desired amount of fertilizer along the bases of seedlings being planted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combination fertilizer distributor and tree seedling planter to plant one seedling at a time in which the distributor comprises: a hopper to hold a quantity of fertilizer;   a rotatable discharge wheel provided with a plurality of spaced open ended tubes;   a plurality of cone shaped inserts;   each said tube being adapted to receive said cone shaped inserts whereby the inserts can be of different capacities and therefore changed to permit calibration of the amount of fertilizer to be discharged from the tube;   a housing encasing said discharge wheel;   said housing having a top opening on one side of the housing positioned to permit fertilizer to feed from the hopper through the opening to fill the tubes on one side of the wheel and having a bottom opening positioned to permit fertilizer to discharge from one of the filled tubes;   tooth engaging sprocket wheel means interconnected to said discharge wheel to permit the operator to selectively move said sprocket wheel means one tooth at a time thereby successively bringing one filled tube at a time to said bottom discharge opening; and   a spring loaded pedal mechanism, moveable by foot or by hand, linked to said sprocket wheel means whereby depressing the pedal by the operator will move said sprocket wheel means from one tooth to the next with the spring thereof returning said pedal to its original position whereby the filled tubes will be successively emptied, one tube at a time.   
     
     
       2. The distributor of claim 1 including a drop chute which is positioned beneath said bottom opening of said housing to direct fertilizer discharged through said bottom opening to the base of a seedling being planted wherein the fertilizer fed from the hopper and resting on the discharge wheel provides a slowing action to stop the dispensing tube of the discharge wheel in the correct position over the bottom opening of the housing and drop chute on each movement of the wheel. 
     
     
       3. The distributor of claim 1 wherein the top of the discharge wheel housing is provided with a top clean out door to take care of fertilizer build up in the housing and discharge wheel. 
     
     
       4. The distributor of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the discharge wheel housing is provided with a bottom clean out door to take care of fertilizer build up in the housing and discharge wheel.